To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

The Griffin: volume 52, issue 15 - Mar. 12, 1982

The Griffin: volume 52, issue 15 - Mar. 12, 1982

Prosecution of the 925,000 eligible Americans who have not registered for the draft will begin in late April, according to Joan Lamb, director of the United States Selective Service system. by Tom Allport The Selective Service is in -the process of identifying those individuals who are eligible to register but have failed to do so, she said. Failure to register is a felony, Lamb said, and is a maximum penalty of $10,000 in fine, five years in jail, or both. Lamb was quick to point out that "the registration hasn't anything to do with the resumption of a peace time draft." American's language deficiency not only causes internal problems within the country, but it also causes diplomatic problems. According to Finnegan there are "all sorts of (diplomatic) misunderstandings that cost a great deal of money." Otherwise they are at a disadvantage" in .international affairs. These firms have "extremely serious problems with recruitment of (international) executives within (their) companies (because) it is harder to train an older person" in a foreign language than a younger person who has some language background. According to Clough, this new trend in foreign language emphasis creates job openings in lost, it is very difficult to regain." Clough believes that after the decrease in foreign language popularity and emphasis over the last decade, there is now "a national trend toward language study (although) it is not a ground swell." He cited as evidence the President's Commission on Foreign Language and International Study which agreed to improve international relations by encouraging the study of foreign languages and civilizations, as mandated by the Helsinki Accords of 1975. Currently, Canisius offers courses in French, Spanish, German, Russian, Polish, Chinese and Japanese. The Canisius College Career Planning and Job Placement Bulletin, Volume 1, Number 25, recently emphasized the great job demand for executives with language skills. "Three-quarters of 245 big companies representing 33 industries, now have chief international officers, which is up from 55% five years ago. The average international chief, usually a vicepresident, works for his company at least 16 years and earns at least $100,000 — nearly 25 percent make $150,000 or more." "You don't have to speak a foreign language to be accepted into the American Diplomatic Corp," although you are trained later. Clough emphasized the severity of the problem when he said that "the Japanese attempted to negotiate surrender (in World War II) two weeks before (the U.S.) dropped the bombs (but it) was not understood until after the bomb was dropped." Clough attributes these problems in communication to 'American "isolationism". American sentiment is toward speaking only English. He said this is a "fortress American mentality (with a) bias against language and foreigners. To ignore language because (you feel) there is no need (for it) is a national scandal." with the ability to speak Russian. This was in marked contrast to the Russian representatives, all of whom were fluent in English, Clough said. Clough agreed with Finnegan, adding that "the colleges blame the high schools and the high schools blame the colleges." A major issue in the collegehigh school "de-emphasizing debate" is college language requirements. According to Clough, Cariisius requires a high school student to have "two units of a language to be admitted, but this is routinely waived by the admissions committee." Finnegan attributes the waiving of the language requirement to "colleges' fight for existence." If admissions enforced the language requirement, enrollment would go down. Hence, in this case, Finnegan says that "finance dictates." He continued that "onGe (the language requirement is) language classes can draw from only 25% of the student body because languages are classified with mathematics in Area VII of the core curriculum. Because 75% of the students here are required to take mathematics, most students fulfill their Area VII requirement in that department. Fr. Eugene Finnegan, S.J., professor of modern languages here, sees a "tremendous decrease" in enrollment in foreign language studies. He believes that since foreign language study was made optional at the college, the decrease has occurred "not because (students) don't like languages, but because of the pressure from their majors." According to Finnegan, the trouble with the American deemphasis on foreign languages "is like the domino theory — once colleges de-emphasize, high school de-emphasize." the fields of translating and industry for people who have mastered a foreign language. The deficiency in American's, understanding of foreign languages causes "a big problem for American business (that) needs people at the decision level (who are) fluent in (foreign languages). Dr. Clough and Fr. Finnegan of the Canisius Modern Language Department. —photo by Bill Murphy Clough agreed with Finnegan's statement that American diplomacy has suffered due to the lack of understanding of foreign languages. He cited the case of Malcolm Toone, a diplomat sent to Russia, who found he was the only American representative at the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks The national trend of decreasing enrollment in foreign languages is compounded at Canisius by. the structure of the Area Studies program, Clough said, adding that Similarly, Thomas E. Miller, dean of students here, stated the increasing number of graduating students at Canisius who have never taken any foreign language classes reflects the national trend. In the Canisius graduating class of 1979, 47 percent of the graduates had never enrolled jn any foreign language class. The decrease in enrollment has affected the size of the full-time faculty. Clough reported that there are now half as many professors as there was in the peak enrollment year of 1967. by Suzanne Cupolo Enrollment in foreign language classes at Canisius has decreased over the last two decades by 40 percent, according to Dr. Raymond Clough, Chairman of the Modern Language Department here. Clough attributed the decrease in enrollment to a perception by today's American that foreign languages are not required for society to function. The number 'of students who enroll each semester in the eight foreign language classes that are taught at the college has decreased from a peak level of approximately 500 students per fall semester in the late 1960s to just "a shade over 300 students-per semester," Clough said. He emphasized that 300 has been "the magic number" for the last five years but enrollment "always decreases in the second term — sometimes as much as 20-25 percent." Non-Registered Will Be Prosecuted Another opponent of the draft registration said he thinks the draft registration "sucks." The student said he felt when he registered that by the time an act of Congress was passed reinstating the draft would be up on Crescent Beach or in Toronto, somewhere in Canada for sure. Freshman Valerie Alford stated she does not believe women should be forced into combat- "but I do believe that if there is a draft, women should have to go. If men have to go, why not women?" she added. the draft and I think it's all right." He agrees with President Reagan's strong stand in defense of our nation because, he said, we have to counter the communist threat to avoid a potential "domino-type situation" from occurring in El Salvador and other developing countries. Another Canisius student, junior Frank Mayrin, had a more conservative outlook. "I registered for When asked if President Reagan would seek to reinstate the draft, Lamb said, "not at all — we're doing everything we can to make it possible for the volunteer forces to serve our needs." The prospect of continued draft registration or the emergence of a draft has drawn mixed reactions from various Canisius students. Thaddeus Dunn, a freshman at Canisius, indicated he "only registered because it was enforced by law. To deprive a person of the right to choice is not only wrong, but morally unfit/' She said that volunteer enlistment to the armed forces on the part of each individual has fulfilled the need for high caliber personnel in today's service, adding that the current system is meeting its quotas. Enrollment Drops in Foreign Language Classes Here The 925,000 people who have failed to register for the draft represents 13% of those required to do so since the new law was enacted during the Carter administration.

This image is issued by Canisius College Archives. Use of the image requires written permission from the Archives. It may not be sold or redistributed as a photograph, electronic file, or any other media. The image should not be significantly altered through conventional or electronic means. Images altered beyond standard cropping and resizing require further negotiation with a staff member. The user is responsible for all issues of copyright. Please credit: Canisius College Archives and Special Collections, Andrew L. Bouwhuis Library, Canisius College.

This image is issued by Canisius College Archives. Use of the image requires written permission from the Archives. It may not be sold or redistributed as a photograph, electronic file, or any other media. The image should not be significantly altered through conventional or electronic means. Images altered beyond standard cropping and resizing require further negotiation with a staff member. The user is responsible for all issues of copyright. Please credit: Canisius College Archives and Special Collections, Andrew L. Bouwhuis Library, Canisius College.

Technical Data

1677.88 KB

Transcript

Prosecution of the 925,000 eligible Americans who have not registered for the draft will begin in late April, according to Joan Lamb, director of the United States Selective Service system. by Tom Allport The Selective Service is in -the process of identifying those individuals who are eligible to register but have failed to do so, she said. Failure to register is a felony, Lamb said, and is a maximum penalty of $10,000 in fine, five years in jail, or both. Lamb was quick to point out that "the registration hasn't anything to do with the resumption of a peace time draft." American's language deficiency not only causes internal problems within the country, but it also causes diplomatic problems. According to Finnegan there are "all sorts of (diplomatic) misunderstandings that cost a great deal of money." Otherwise they are at a disadvantage" in .international affairs. These firms have "extremely serious problems with recruitment of (international) executives within (their) companies (because) it is harder to train an older person" in a foreign language than a younger person who has some language background. According to Clough, this new trend in foreign language emphasis creates job openings in lost, it is very difficult to regain." Clough believes that after the decrease in foreign language popularity and emphasis over the last decade, there is now "a national trend toward language study (although) it is not a ground swell." He cited as evidence the President's Commission on Foreign Language and International Study which agreed to improve international relations by encouraging the study of foreign languages and civilizations, as mandated by the Helsinki Accords of 1975. Currently, Canisius offers courses in French, Spanish, German, Russian, Polish, Chinese and Japanese. The Canisius College Career Planning and Job Placement Bulletin, Volume 1, Number 25, recently emphasized the great job demand for executives with language skills. "Three-quarters of 245 big companies representing 33 industries, now have chief international officers, which is up from 55% five years ago. The average international chief, usually a vicepresident, works for his company at least 16 years and earns at least $100,000 — nearly 25 percent make $150,000 or more." "You don't have to speak a foreign language to be accepted into the American Diplomatic Corp," although you are trained later. Clough emphasized the severity of the problem when he said that "the Japanese attempted to negotiate surrender (in World War II) two weeks before (the U.S.) dropped the bombs (but it) was not understood until after the bomb was dropped." Clough attributes these problems in communication to 'American "isolationism". American sentiment is toward speaking only English. He said this is a "fortress American mentality (with a) bias against language and foreigners. To ignore language because (you feel) there is no need (for it) is a national scandal." with the ability to speak Russian. This was in marked contrast to the Russian representatives, all of whom were fluent in English, Clough said. Clough agreed with Finnegan, adding that "the colleges blame the high schools and the high schools blame the colleges." A major issue in the collegehigh school "de-emphasizing debate" is college language requirements. According to Clough, Cariisius requires a high school student to have "two units of a language to be admitted, but this is routinely waived by the admissions committee." Finnegan attributes the waiving of the language requirement to "colleges' fight for existence." If admissions enforced the language requirement, enrollment would go down. Hence, in this case, Finnegan says that "finance dictates." He continued that "onGe (the language requirement is) language classes can draw from only 25% of the student body because languages are classified with mathematics in Area VII of the core curriculum. Because 75% of the students here are required to take mathematics, most students fulfill their Area VII requirement in that department. Fr. Eugene Finnegan, S.J., professor of modern languages here, sees a "tremendous decrease" in enrollment in foreign language studies. He believes that since foreign language study was made optional at the college, the decrease has occurred "not because (students) don't like languages, but because of the pressure from their majors." According to Finnegan, the trouble with the American deemphasis on foreign languages "is like the domino theory — once colleges de-emphasize, high school de-emphasize." the fields of translating and industry for people who have mastered a foreign language. The deficiency in American's, understanding of foreign languages causes "a big problem for American business (that) needs people at the decision level (who are) fluent in (foreign languages). Dr. Clough and Fr. Finnegan of the Canisius Modern Language Department. —photo by Bill Murphy Clough agreed with Finnegan's statement that American diplomacy has suffered due to the lack of understanding of foreign languages. He cited the case of Malcolm Toone, a diplomat sent to Russia, who found he was the only American representative at the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks The national trend of decreasing enrollment in foreign languages is compounded at Canisius by. the structure of the Area Studies program, Clough said, adding that Similarly, Thomas E. Miller, dean of students here, stated the increasing number of graduating students at Canisius who have never taken any foreign language classes reflects the national trend. In the Canisius graduating class of 1979, 47 percent of the graduates had never enrolled jn any foreign language class. The decrease in enrollment has affected the size of the full-time faculty. Clough reported that there are now half as many professors as there was in the peak enrollment year of 1967. by Suzanne Cupolo Enrollment in foreign language classes at Canisius has decreased over the last two decades by 40 percent, according to Dr. Raymond Clough, Chairman of the Modern Language Department here. Clough attributed the decrease in enrollment to a perception by today's American that foreign languages are not required for society to function. The number 'of students who enroll each semester in the eight foreign language classes that are taught at the college has decreased from a peak level of approximately 500 students per fall semester in the late 1960s to just "a shade over 300 students-per semester," Clough said. He emphasized that 300 has been "the magic number" for the last five years but enrollment "always decreases in the second term — sometimes as much as 20-25 percent." Non-Registered Will Be Prosecuted Another opponent of the draft registration said he thinks the draft registration "sucks." The student said he felt when he registered that by the time an act of Congress was passed reinstating the draft would be up on Crescent Beach or in Toronto, somewhere in Canada for sure. Freshman Valerie Alford stated she does not believe women should be forced into combat- "but I do believe that if there is a draft, women should have to go. If men have to go, why not women?" she added. the draft and I think it's all right." He agrees with President Reagan's strong stand in defense of our nation because, he said, we have to counter the communist threat to avoid a potential "domino-type situation" from occurring in El Salvador and other developing countries. Another Canisius student, junior Frank Mayrin, had a more conservative outlook. "I registered for When asked if President Reagan would seek to reinstate the draft, Lamb said, "not at all — we're doing everything we can to make it possible for the volunteer forces to serve our needs." The prospect of continued draft registration or the emergence of a draft has drawn mixed reactions from various Canisius students. Thaddeus Dunn, a freshman at Canisius, indicated he "only registered because it was enforced by law. To deprive a person of the right to choice is not only wrong, but morally unfit/' She said that volunteer enlistment to the armed forces on the part of each individual has fulfilled the need for high caliber personnel in today's service, adding that the current system is meeting its quotas. Enrollment Drops in Foreign Language Classes Here The 925,000 people who have failed to register for the draft represents 13% of those required to do so since the new law was enacted during the Carter administration.